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Americans’ Views on Income Inequality and Workers’ Rights

JUNE 3, 2015

Americans overwhelmingly favor a variety of proposals aimed at strengthening workers’ rights, including paid sick leave and paid family leave, the latest New York Times/CBS News poll finds. A majority, moreover, continues to support raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10.
JUNE 3, 2015
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The nationwide telephone poll was conducted on landlines and cellphones May 28-31 with 1,022 adults and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.
Full methodology.

Income Inequality

Most Americans say that it is mainly just a few people at the top who have a chance to get ahead and that the money and wealth in this country should be more evenly distributed.

The vast majority of Democrats and most independents say wealth should be more evenly distributed, but Republicans are closely split.

Which comes closer to your view? In today's economy, everyone has a fair chance to get ahead in the long run, or in today's economy, it's mainly just a few people at the top who have a chance to get ahead?

Do you feel that the distribution of money and wealth in this country is fair, or do you feel that the money and wealth in this country should be more evenly distributed among more people?

When it comes to the availability of good jobs for American workers, some say that America's best years are behind us. Others say the best times are yet to come. What do you think?

Do you think the gap between the rich and the poor in the United States is getting larger, getting smaller or has stayed the same?

Do you think the gap between rich and poor in this country is a problem that needs to be addressed now, a problem but one that does not need to be addressed now or not a problem?

Should the government do more to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor in this country or is this something the government should not be doing?

Do you favor or oppose raising taxes on people earning more than $1 million per year?

Do you favor or oppose raising taxes on financial transactions like the sale of stocks or bonds?

Do you favor or oppose limiting the amount of money earned by top executives at large corporations?

When you think about your own personal finances over the next few months, do you feel very confident, somewhat confident, somewhat uneasy, or very uneasy?

Workers’ Rights

Americans overwhelmingly favor requiring employers to offer paid sick leave to employees who are ill and paid leave to parents of new children and employees caring for sick family members. A majority, moreover, continues to support raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10.

However, most oppose requiring fast food chains and other hourly employers to pay workers at least $15 an hour.

As you may know, the federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour. Do you favor or oppose raising the minimum wage to $10.10?

Do you favor or oppose requiring employers to offer paid leave to parents of new children and employees caring for sick family members?

Do you favor or oppose requiring employers to offer paid sick leave to employees who are ill?

Do you favor or oppose requiring fast-food chains and other hourly employers to pay workers at least $15 per hour?

Do you favor or oppose requiring chain stores and fast-food outlets to give workers at least two weeks' notice of any changes in their work schedules or provide them with extra pay?

Do you think labor unions have too much influence, too little influence, or about the right amount of influence on American life and politics today?

Do you think large corporations have too much influence, too little influence, or about the right amount of influence on American life and politics today?

By law, a union must protect and bargain on behalf of all workers in a place of employment where the union exists, whether or not they are members. Should all workers be required to pay union fees in exchange for these benefits, even if they choose not to join the union, or should workers who don’t want to join the union be able to opt out of paying fees, even though they receive the benefits?

International Trade

Most Americans continue to say that trade restrictions are necessary to protect domestic industries. But the large majority of Americans haven’t heard or read much, or anything at all, about the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Which of the following statements comes closer to your opinion? Trade restrictions are necessary to protect domestic industries.Free trade must be allowed, even if domestic industries are hurt by foreign competition.

Do you favor or oppose Nafta — the North American Free Trade Agreement between Mexico, Canada, and the United States, or don't you know enough about NAFTA to say?

Do you favor or oppose giving the president authority to negotiate international trade deals that Congress can only approve or disapprove, but not change?

As you may know, the Obama administration is negotiating a trade agreement with 11 countries bordering on the Pacific called the Trans–Pacific Partnership. How much have you heard or read about the Trans–Pacific Partnership – a lot, some, not much or nothing at all?

From what you have heard or read, do you think the Trans–Pacific Partnership trade agreement would increase the number of jobs available in the United States, decrease the number of jobs available, or won't it make much difference?